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By John Aziz, MD
Psychiatry, Psychiatric Center of Northwest Ohio

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mood disorder that affects about 1% of the U.S. population. Although bipolar disorder is highly genetic, there is no specific mode of inheritance of the disorder from an affected parent to their children. That means if the father or the mother has bipolar disorder, the children might have a higher risk of having bipolar disorder, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that any of them will definitely have the disorder at some point in their lives.

As the name “bipolar” implies, there are two ends of the “pole”: the higher end and the lower end.

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By Karen L. Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU Healthwise Team 

In 1971, David Bowie released his Grammy Hall of Fame song Changes. This song is considered one of his top 5 songs. In the lyrics, Bowie writes “time may change me.”  How have our thoughts changed on niacin over time?

Niacin is known as vitamin B3 and is commonly found in foods such as meats, fish, nuts, brown rice, seeds and bananas. Many cereals, grains, flour, and breads are enriched with niacin. 

A deficiency of niacin results in a condition called pellagra. The term comes from the impact on the skin involving rashes and sensitivity to the sun. Other symptoms can include weakness, confusion, and stomach pain. Alcohol consumption can reduce niacin levels in the body as well as the prescription drugs, phenytoin (Dilantin) or valproic acid (Depokote). 

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By Grace Eberly, DO
Pediatrician, Caughman Health Center, Pediatric Associates of Northwest Ohio

It is a well-studied but often-forgotten phenomenon that each year during the winter months, up to 10 million Americans will experience symptoms of depression. As its name implies, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mood disturbance thought to be caused by the effect of shorter days and decreasing amounts of sunlight on the brain. 

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By Megan Gushrowski, Pharmacist and Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU Healthwise Team 

Due to COVID-19, Elton John suspended his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in 2020. During the pandemic, he formed collaborations with other artists including Dua Lipa. They did an upbeat remix titled Cold Heart, which hit number 1 in 12 countries. 

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By Karen L. Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU Healthwise Team 

Celine Dion released the single My Heart Will Go On as part of the Titanic movie sound track in November of 1997.  The song hit the top of the charts in 25 countries and was the best-selling single in 1998.  The song dominated the 1999 Grammy Awards and won an Academy Award.  

Celine is known for her powerful voice with strong technical skills.  She recently has suspended all shows due to her developing a rare disease known as stiff-person syndrome.  It was announced in January of 2024 that Amazon MGM Studios will be releasing a documentary about this topic titled I Am: Celine Dion. 

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By Gina Bailey, BSN, RN
Infection Preventionist, Quality/Infection Control, Blanchard Valley Health System

A multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) is a living organism, bacteria, or fungi that has evolved and mutated to protect itself from medications that were once used to treat the infection they cause. MDROs can affect any person but are especially concerning for individuals in hospitals, long-term care facilities, group living facilities, those who are immunosuppressed or those who have chronic conditions. 

Healthcare providers and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are concerned about the spread of drug-resistant organisms. They estimate more than 2.8 million resistant infections occur in the U.S. According to a collaborative study with the CDC, the estimated cost to treat infections caused by only six MDROs is more than $4.6 billion annually.​ 

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